Illustrator/Photoshop workflow

Hello All. I've been reading different threads about how to work with photoshop/illustrator when working with print and cut. I'm new but I wanted to share how I've been working back and forth because I think it may either help someone out or maybe someone can help me fine tune it.

I have jpeg files with clipping paths and bleeds I want cut. So the first thing I do is make a rectangle in MTC and use my jpeg image as a texture. Back in photoshop I export the paths to illustrator - open in illustrator and fill the path with a solid color. I use the pathfinder divide tool so I can go in and delete the 'negative space' for the inside cuts. When I am done with that I go back to pathfinder and unite the shape again. Save as an ai and go back to MTC. I then import my 'cut file' ai and align it with my image that is a texture and then turn that layer off. I print to pdf (I'm on a mac so I use a program called CUPS-PDF that installs itself as a printer) I can place my pdf that now has the image and the crop marks in indesign - but it could be photoshop or illustrator, make any changes I need to and print it out. Load it up on my mat- go back to MTC and cut it out using my illustrator paths. This way I get the control of my professional design software for the printed image but can still cut everything out perfectly.

Sure. I can put something together when I have some time. Did you have a specific question maybe I can help with? It's kind of a hodgepodge process I've put together for the Zing but it works for me so far. I've worked with cut and print files for commercial large format printers/routers for years so I did have a bit of a head start with the Zing.

I can understand your need to create the file to print in Photoshop, but I don't follow the need for using Illustrator. I think MTC can do all the rest of the process for you. Perhaps if I can see what you are accomplishing with your process, I could make some suggestions on how to do the same thing in Make The Cut. Or perhaps if there is a feature that is still needed in Make The Cut to accomplish your goal, we could ask Andy to add it. You can copy and paste your cutting lines from Illustrator to Make The Cut and back again, if you need to.